All’s ready for the iconic event to be called the Hawaii Islands Liturgy and Arts Conference
Mainland presenters David Haas and Lori True sing at an earlier BILAC in the Mystical Rose Oratory on the Chaminade University campus. (Photo courtesy of Marianist HILAC)
After 40 years as the Big Island Liturgy and Arts Conference, BILAC is now the Hawaii Islands Liturgy and Arts Conference.
Although BILAC moved to Oahu several years ago, now seems the right time to update the name to Marianist HILAC.
HILAC, now sponsored by the Marianists’ Saint Louis School, Chaminade University and Marianist Center of Hawaii, is a program that emphasizes the mutual enrichment of the indigenous Hawaiian/host culture and the traditions of Catholic Christianity. To that end, local and Mainland artists and presenters come together to form community as they present concerts, lectures and workshops about the liturgical arts and the history and culture of the Hawaiian Islands.
The 2017 HILAC program will feature both familiar and new faces from here and across the Pacific. Returning artists from the Mainland include Lori True and Tony Alonso. In addition to her beautiful liturgical compositions and recordings, True serves as a coordinating team member and prepares the beautiful prayer services and liturgies for which the program is well known.
Alonso, a prolific recording artist and composer of the next generation, crisscrosses the country doing concerts and workshops while working on the thesis for his doctorate in theology. Through his help, a number of newer faces to Hawaii will be joining the program this year.
A good friend and colleague of Alonso is Chris DeSilva who works in campus ministry at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. DeSilva has several CDs to his credit. He is also a regular artist at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress as are some other newer presenters such as Anna Betancourt, Franciscan Brother Rufino Zaragoza and Pedro Rubalcava.
The latter two will also be co-lecturers for the Mackey Marianist Lecture Series which is held during the conference. They will use their experience of working with multi-cultural communities as a jumping off point for their reflections and lecture.
Mary Louise Bringle, theologian and lyricist, will also be a keynoter. In addition to these and other Mainland presenters, several local experts will be on hand.
Former Miss Aloha Hula and commentator as well as participant in the Merrie Monarch Festival, kumu hula Maelia Lobenstein-Carter ably will show how hula ties in with our deepest beliefs as Catholic Christians. Makana Paris, who recently finished studies in law, will bring his expertise to shed light on peace and justice issues for native Hawaiians. Father Alapaki Kim, chaplain for HILAC, will model the incorporation of liturgical inculturation.
Serving with Lori True as coordinating team members are local composer Joe Camacho and Marianist Brother Dennis Schmitz from the Marianist Center of Hawaii. All three members stress that HILAC is not just for the choir and musicians. It has something for everyone. It’s a richly rewarding time of prayer, learning, fun and laughter.
This year’s program begins with a free concert on Thursday evening, Nov. 2, and continues on Nov. 3 and 4 with keynotes, workshops and concerts.
For more information go to the conference’s web page at www.marianisthilac.com or contact Brother Dennis Schmitz at 232-6691.
